Pages

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Saw Palmetto Berry Health Benefits and Side Effects

Saw Palmetto Berry is a fruit from a small palm like tree of the genus in the genus Serenoa, belonging to the family, native too southeastern North America. The herb has been used in The North American Seminole Indians for infertility, PMS, reproductive or urinary tract problems, urinary tract infections, stomach aches, indigestion and dysentery, etc.

Health Benefits1. Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH)In the comparison of the effects of Saw Palmetto (extract and whole berry) and Cernitin on prostate growth found that All treatments decreased the size of the prostate to roughly the same size as in the non-castrated rats, a size that was significantly smaller than castrated rats treated with testosterone in the same manner (p < 0.01). A second study examining non-castrated rats treated with very high doses of testosterone showed similar results. In both studies, the nutraceuticals generally decreased body weight. In conclusion, these studies show the ability of Saw Palmetto (whole berry and extract) and Cernitin to influence prostatic hyperplasia via effects on androgen metabolism, according to "Comparison of Saw Palmetto (extract and whole berry) and Cernitin on prostate growth in rats" by Talpur N, Echard B, Bagchi D, Bagchi M, Preuss HG.(1)

2. Lower urinary tract symptomsIn the investigation of the mechanism of action and clinical results of saw palmetto in men with benign prostatic hyperplasia was performed., found that saw palmetto may have a significant effect on urinary flow rates and symptom scores compared to placebo in men with lower urinary tract symptoms. However, large scale, placebo controlled trials are needed to assess the efficacy of saw palmetto, according to "Saw palmetto for the treatment of men with lower urinary tract symptoms" by Gerber GS.(2)

3. Prostate cancerIn evaluation of Saw PalmettoBerry Extract (SPBE) and its cytotoxicity of a set of prostatic cell lines; 267B-1, BRFF-41T and LNCaP, found that Proliferation of these prostatic derived cell lines is inhibited to different degrees when dosed for 3 days with SPBE. The amount of SPBE required to inhibit 50% growth (IC50) of these cell lines was 20-30 nl equivalents of SPBE per ml of medium for cell lines 267B-1 and BRFF-41T and approximately 10-fold more for the LNCaP cell line. The effect of SPBE dosing on these cell lines is not irreversible, since a 30 min treatment with SPBE at an IC50 concentration does not inhibit their growth."Saw palmettoberry extract inhibits cell growth and Cox-2 expression in prostatic cancer cells" by

4. Anti cancersIn the examination of the effect of an ethanolic extract of S. repens (10-1000 microg/ml) was tested in hormone-sensitive LNCaP, MCF-7 and hormone-insensitive DU 145, MDA MB231 prostate, breast carcinoma cell lines, renal Caki-1, urinary bladder J82, colon HCT 116 and lung A 549 cancer cells, found that the antiproliferative effect exerted by the ethanolic extract of S. repens is at least triggered by induction of apoptosis. These in vitro data provide some information that may be useful for clinical use and render S. repens extract an interesting tool for new applications, according to "Evaluation of cell death caused by an ethanolic extract of Serenoae repentis fructus (Prostasan) on human carcinoma cell lines" by

7. Edema In the evaluation of an acidic polysaccharide from Sabal serrulata Roem. et Schult (Serenoa repens, [Bart] Small), found that at extremely low doses inhibiting activity on the carrageenin paw oedema and pellet test of the rat, but did not influence the proliferative phase of inflammation, according to "[A New Antiphlogistic Principle from Sabal serrulata, II].[Article in German]" by Wagner H, Flachsbarth H, Vogel G.(7)

Side Effects1. Overdose can cause gastrointestinal discomfort, including dizziness, headaches, nausea, vomiting, etc.2. The herb may cause allergic effect, including hives, itching, rash, etc.3. Not not use the herb in new born, children or if you are pregnant or breast feeding without approval from the related field specialist.4. Etc.